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The Right flank at Gettysbufg 



An Account of the Operations of 
General David McM. Gregg's Cavalry Command 

AND THEIR IMPORTANT BeARING ON THE 

Results of the Battle. 



REPRINTED FROM 



Philadelphia Weekly Times, September 14, 1878. 



PHILADELPHIA: 

McLaughlin Brothers' Job Printing Establishment 

1J2 and 114 South Third Street. 



Presented witli the 

Compliments of 

William Brooke Rawle, 



230 South Twenty-second Street, 
Philadelphia, Pa. 



2. 



Tlie lli|lit Flaok at kWphi 



An Account of the Operations of 

General David McM. Gregg's Cavalry Command 

AND their Important Bearing on the 

Results of the Battle. 



REPRINTED FROM 



Philadelphia Weekly Times, September 14, 1878. 



PHILADELPHIA: 

McLaughlin Brothers' Job Printing Establishment 

1J2 and lU South Third Street. 



S. "'fi 



& 






I 



THE RIGHT FLANK AT GETTYSBURG. 



The Operations of Gregg's Cavalry and Their Important 

Bearing on the General Result— The Brilliant 

Hand-to-Hand Conflict on the Last 

Day of the Battle. 

BY WILLIAM BROOKE- EAWLE, 

Late Captain Third Pennsylvania Cavalry and Brevet 

Lieutenant Colonel United States Volunteers. 



It is but natural that the battle which proved 
to be the turning point of the rebellion should at- 
tract more attention and be more thoroughly 
studied than any other. To some, it may seem 
late in the day to discuss a new phase of that 
fearful struggle, but to those now living who 
there "assisted," the subject is full of interest. 

The "History of the Civil War in America," by 
the Comte de Paris, has been written to the end 
of the year 1862 with a degree of ability which 
is remarkable. In his search for the truth con- 
cerning the campaign of Gettysburg that author 
has loosened an avalanche of newspaper and 
manuscript communications, especially from our 
" friends on the other side," and he may well hesi- 
tate before attempting to reconcile the many dis- 
puted questions which have arisen. So peculiar 
do the views of some writers appear to us, that 
we begin to distrust the memory of those days 
and almost to question the general belief that 
the battle of Gettysburg was a victory for the 
Union arms. Some might be led to suppose that 
the dissensions among the Confederate leaders, 
rather than the ability with which General 
Meade handled his noble army, brought about 
the results of the battle. Indeed it is becoming 
doubtful to the minds of many of the partici- 



pants in the battle whether they were even pre- 
sent — so different from their recollection of the 
events do recent representations appear. 

It has been insinuated by a gallant Confederate 
officer (Major H. B. McClellan, assistant adjutant 
general on the staff of General J. E. B, Stuart), 
who might be presumed to have been in a position 
to judge correctly, that the cavalry operations on 
the right flank at Gettysburg resulted victori- 
ously for his cause. That this was not the case 
will be shown conclusively. 

But little has been written of the operations of 
the cavalry during the battle of Gettysburg. So 
fierce was the main engagement, of which the 
infantry bore the brunt, that the "affairs" of 
the cavalry have almost passed unnoticed, yet 
on the right flank occurred one of the most 
beautiful cavalry fights of the war, and one most 
important in its results. It may safely be said 
that, had it not been for General David McM. 
Gregg and the three brigades under his command 
on the Bonaughtown road, on July 3, 1863, the 
day would have resulted differently, and, in- 
stead of a glorious victory, the name of " Get- 
tysburg " would suggest a state of affairs which 
it is not agreeable to contemplate. The neglect 
with which this portion of the battle has been 
treated is due in great part to the want of that 
self-assertion which was not uncommon among 
the officers of our cavalry corps. The skilful 
leader, gallant officer and accomplished gentle- 
man who was in command on the right flank, 
has allowed- his modesty and retiring disposition 
to stand in the way of his claiming for himself 
and his division the laurels to which they are 
entitled. Moreover, the Second cavalry division 
was not a favorite among the newspaper corres- 



3 



pondents, none of whom were attached nomi- 
nally to its stafi*, nor allowed in its camps or 
among its men — for its commander saw the mis- 
chief which they worked. He was appreciated 
the more for his rule, but there ai'e instances of 
others thereby gathering in the ephemeral 
records of the times, the glory which he had 
rightly earned, well knowing that no public de- 
nial would come from him. It is but tardy jus- 
tice which- is now being done to him and his 
command, and the importance of the operations 
has never been brought before the public until 
the recent appearance of Major Carpenter's able 
article, containing extracts from the official 
report of the Confederate General Stuart, of in- 
finite importance to the history of the battle, 
but which the War Department for some reason 
has hitherto refused to the public. 

General Meade, in his official report of the 
battle, merely refers to the fact that on the 3d of 
July " General Gregg was engaged with the 
enemy on our extreme right, having passed 
across the Baltimore pike and Bonaughtown road 
and boldly attacked the enemy's left and rear," 
and in his dispatches of that date he telegraphed 
in the evening to Washington : " My cavalry have 
been engaged all day on both flanks of the 
enemy, harassing and vigorously attacking him 
with great success, notwithstanding they en- 
countered superior numbers, both cavalry and 
infantry." Swinton, in his " Campaigns of the 
Army of the Potomac," states that " during the 
action (July 3) the cavalry had been operating 
on the flanks — Kilpatrick's division on the left 
and Gregg's division on the right," and, in a 
note, *'the scope of this work does not permit 
the recital of the details of the numerous cav- 



.-^M^ 



airy affairs." Bates, in his "History of the 
Battle of Gettysburg," which contains some good 
material, gives a few lines to an account of the 
operations on the right flank, correct in the 
main, but he erroneously locates Stuart with his 
cavalry on the right of the Confederate line. 

Amoug prominent cavalry officers a like want 
of appreciation has been shown. General Pleas- 
onton who, though nominally commanding the 
cavalry corps at the time, was not with any of his 
divisions, but according to his own account, near 
General Meade in the rear of the centre of the 
infantry line of battle, instructing his distin- 
guished chief " how in half an hour to show 
himself a great general," has recently written an 
article giving an outline of the valuable services 
of the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac pre- 
ceding the battle. He omits entirely to mention 
its services in the battle itself. Though conclud- 
ing in a general way with a glowing tribute to 
its services, it is difficult to ascertain from what 
he writes whether any portion of the corps of 
which he was the commander was actually en- 
gaged. 

In the official maps of the battle-field recently 
published by the War Department, the respon- 
sible duty of locating the different portions of 
the contending armies has been assigned to Mr. 
John B. Bachelder. He also has paid but little 
attention in his studies of the battle to the opera- 
tions of the cavalry, but in a note, apparently 
accounting for the absence in other places of the 
Confederate cavalry command of General Stuart, 
he makes a half-hidden mention of " Gregg's 
cavalry " on the maps both of the 2d and 3d of 
July as being engaged on those days outside the 
limits of the maps. He has fallen into error even 
in designating the roads on which those forces 



1^ 



met. This may in some degree be owing to the 
fact that the official surveys from which the maps 
were prepared have not been extended suffi- 
ciently far to the east to cover the field of the 
operations, though an equivalent quantity of 
country to the west, upon which no events of 
consequence occurred, has been included. And 
finally General Custer, who was temporarily 
serving under General Gregg with his brigade, 
forwarded independently an official report of the 
movements of his command, which in some of its 
statements is not entirely ingenuous. In the 
account referred to he has taken to himself and 
his Michigan brigade alone the credit which, to 
say the least, others were entitled to share. 

The story of Gregg's fight has never been told. 
The task of telling it now has devolved upon the 
writer, who would have preferred that some 
other and abler hand had undertaken it. As it 
is, the following has at least the merit of being 
written by one who witnessed and participated 
in the events which he attempts to describe, and 
his comrades are ready to sustain him in that 
which he relates. 

In the movements of the Army of the Potomac 
after crossing that river in pursuit of the Army 
of Northern Virginia, the cavalry corps of the 
former, with its three divisions, operated in front 
and on the fianks. General Buford, with the 
First division, took the left flank, General Kil- 
patrick, with the Third division, the centre, and 
General Gregg, with the Second division, which 
was the last of the army to leave Virginia, the 
right flank. This disposition was maintained as 
well as could be, but when the column of Stuart 
was struck, Kilpatrick was followed up by Gregg. 



6 



In the concentration upon Gettysburg, Gregg, 
with the First and Third brigades of his division, 
left Hanover at daybreak on the 2d of July, and 
about noon took position on the Bonaughtown 
(or Hanover) road, near its intersection with the 
Salem Church (or Low Dutch) road and about 
three miles from the town. The First brigade, 
commanded by Colonel John B. Mcintosh of the 
Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, consisted, besides 
his own regiment, of the First New Jersey and 
First Maryland Cavalry regiments and Captain 
A. M. Eandol's Light Battery E of the First 
(regular) Artillery, four guns. It was tempo- 
rarily depleted of one-half its strength by the 
loss of the First Pennsylvania and First Massa- 
chusetts Cavalry regiments, which had been de- 
tached for service with the reserve artillery and 
the Sixth corps respectively. The Third brigade, 
commanded by Colonel J. Irvin Gregg of the 
Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, consisted of his 
own regiment, the Fourth Pennsylvania, First 
Maine and Tenth New York cavalry regiments. 
In addition to Eandol's battery a section of the 
volunteer battery belonging to the Purnell Le- 
gion was with the division during a portion of 
the battle. This section, in the hurrying move- 
ments of concentration, had become separated 
from its proper command and had been found 
wandering around the country entirely on its 
own account. General Gregg took it along with 
him and showed it some marching which aston- 
ished its fat and sleek horses and well condi- 
tioned men. The Second brigade of the division, 
under Colonel Pennock Huey of the Eighth Penn- 
sylvania Cavalry, had on the 1st of July been sent 
to Westminster, Md., to guard the army trains. 

Since crossing the Potomac on the 27th of June 
the column had marched steadily day and night. 



Previously it had been on incessant duty since 
the opening of the campaign on the 9th of June 
at Brandy Station, and now having been for 
many days without food or forage, the division 
arrived with wearied men and jaded horses upon 
the field of Gettysburg. Its numerical strength 
had, moreover, been considerably reduced, for 
many horses and men had dropped from exhaus- 
tion along the road. So much so was this the 
case that, in some regiments, it became necessary 
to consolidate the companies, and consequently 
the numbers of squadrons in each was reduced 
to three or four. 

Upon reaching the Bonaughtown road pick- 
ets were thrown out, connecting with the in- 
fantry on the left and extending well to the 
right of the road. The remainder of the com- 
mand sought a little rest and shelter from the 
scorching heat, while from the ridges of hills 
could be distinctly seen the conflict between the 
infantry and artillery of the opposing armies. 
About 7 o'clock in the evening a line of Con- 
federate infantry skirmishers, covering their 
main column, which proved to be a portion of 
Johnson's division of Ewell's corps, moved along 
our front to the attack of Gulp's hill. Screened 
from the position occupied by the cavalry by 
Brinkerhofi"'s ridge the enemy were not at first 
observed by the pickets, but a party of Confed- 
erate officers making a reconnoissance to the 
summit of the ridge where it crosses the Bo- 
naughtown road disclosed their approach. The 
section of the Purnell battery in position on the 
road near the Howard house planted two shells 
in their midst. At the same moment those por- 
tions of Mcintosh's brigade which were not un- 
saddled, and which were drawn up near the Little 
house, mounted and moved forward. Several 



8 



squadrons of the Third Pennsylvania and First 
New Jersey plunged down the hill and across 
Cress' run, then dismounted and deployed at the 
double quick. Coming to the summit of Brink- 
erhoff's ridge the enemy's line of infantry was 
observed approaching also at a run. Along the 
summit there was a strong stone wall which 
each party at once saw would command posses- 
sion of the field, and each redoubled its efforts to 
secure it. The cavalrymen, however, reached it 
first — the enemy being but some ten yards off" — 
and poured in a volley from their carbines which 
checked the advance of their adversaries. The 
enemy, after some inefiectual attempts to take 
the wall, retired to a more sheltered position 
about two hundred yards ofi", and heavy firing 
was kept up until after nightfall. 

In the meantime some of the artillery with 
the division was employed upon the columns of 
the enemy's infantry, which could be seen mov- 
ing toward Gulp's hill in support of the bloody 
struggle for its possession. About 10 o'clock in 
the evening, in accordance with orders from 
headquarters, General Gregg withdrew the skir- 
mish line, substituting a picket line from the 
First New Jersey, and moved his command over 
to the Baltimore pike, where it took position on 
the south side of White run in the rear of Gen- 
eral Tyler's reserve artillery, and remained there 
during the night. 

On the morning of July 3d General Gregg was 
directed to resume his position on the right of the 
infantry line and make a demonstration against 
the enemy. Finding General Custer's brigade 
of the Third cavalry division occupying his po- 
sition ot the previous day on the Bonaughtown 
road, Gregg placed his two brigades to the 
left of Custer's line, covering the right of the 



Twelfth corps. A regiment was dismounted and 
deployed for some distance into the woods with- 
out finding anything in front. Scarcely had 
this been done, however, when about noon a 
dispatch from the commander of the Eleventh 
corps to General Meade was placed in General 
Gregg's hands notifying him that a large body 
of the enemy's cavalry had been observed from 
Cemetery hill moving toward the right of our 
line. At the same time an order from General 
Pleasonton, commanding the cavalry corps, was 
received, directing that Custer's brigade should 
at once join its division (Kilpatrick's) on the 
left. Accordingly Mcintosh's brigade was ordered 
to relieve Custer's and to occupy his position on 
the right of the Bonaughtown road west of the 
Salem Church road. 

In order to appreciate the positions of the op- 
posing forces it becomes necessary to examine 
the official report of General J. E. B. Stuart, 
now in the possession of the War Department, 
but which has never been published in full. 
After mentioning that his advance (Hampton's 
brigade) had arrived in the vicinity of Gettys- 
burg on July 2d, just in time to repulse an attempt 
by our cavalry (under Kilpatrick) to reach the 
rear of the Confederate line by way of Hunters- 
town, Stuart proceeds to state that he took posi- 
tion on the York and Heidlersburg roads. On the 
morning of the 3d he moved forward to a new 
position to the left of General Ewell's left and 
in advance of it, where, from the elevated 
ground, there was a view of the country for 
many miles. He was thus enabled to render 
Swell's left secure and at the same time to com- 
mand a view of the routes leading to the rear of 
our lines. His purpose, he states, was to effect a 
surprise on the rear of our main line of battle. 



/ 



10 



It is obvious that he intended to accomplish this 
by way of the Baltimore pike, and the roads here- 
after described, simultaneously with Pickett's 
attack in front. In the concentration of his 
forces for this object, however, Hampton's and 
Fitzhugh Lee's brigades, as he further states, un- 
fortunately debouched into open ground, dis- 
closing the movement and causing the corres- 
ponding movement of a large force of our cav- 
alry, and to this Stuart attributes his want of 
success. Although checked in his original de- 
sign, nevertheless, he adds: "Had the enemy's 
main body been dislodged, as was confidently 
hoped and expected" (by Pickett's charge) "I 
was in precisely the right position to discover it 
and improve the opportunity. I watched keenly 
and anxiously the indications in his rear for 
that purpose, while in the attack which I in- 
tended (which was forestalled by our troops 
being exposed to view) his cavalry would have 
separated from the main body and gave promise 
of solid results and advantages." 

Stuart acknowledges that the position which 
he held was very strong, and he is fully justified 
in his description of it. A country cross-road 
branches off from the York turnpike about two 
and a half miles from Gettysburg, and runs in a 
southeasterly direction toward the Salem Church 
road which connects the York and Baltimore 
turnpikes. About half the distance to the Salem 
church road and a mile from it the road crosses 
Cress' run and then rises to the ridge mentioned 
by Stuart, and known as Cress' ridge. A mod- 
erately thick piece of woods on tne right ends 
at the crest of the ridge, affording protection and 
cover to the supports of the battery which was 
subsequently placed there. Screened by the 
piece of woods and on the opposite side of the 



11 



cross-road is a large open space on the Stallsmith 
farm, which enabled the Confederate leader to 
mass and mancBUvre his cavalry without its being 
observed from our position. 

Gregg's position was as inferior to Stuart's as 
the general line occupied by the main body of 
the Army of Northern Virginia was to that oc- 
cupied by the Army of the Potomac. As Stuart 
says, the whole country for miles lay at his feet. 
The Salem Church road crosses the Bonaughtown 
road nearly at, right angles, about three and a 
half miles southeast of Gettysburg, at the 
Eeever house, and continues on about two miles 
further until it reaches the Baltimore pike about 
one and three-fourths miles southeast of Eock 
creek and the rear of centre of our main line of 
battle. About three-fourths of a mile northeast 
from the intersection of the Salem Church and 
Bonaughtown roads the cross-road above men- 
tioned branches off to the northwest toward the 
York pike and Stuart's position. A piece of 
woods, which since the battle has been reduced in 
extent, covered the intersection of the Salem 
Church road and the cross-road on the side to- 
ward the enemy's position, extending about equi- 
distant on each road from a lane leading down 
to John Eummel's house and farm buildings on 
the north, to the Lott house on the south, a 
total distance of about a half mile or more. One 
side of this woods faced the northwest and the 
enemy's position. Between the ridge on which 
the Eeever house stands and along which the 
Salem Church road runs, and the higher ridge 
occupied by Stuart, is a small creek known as 
Little's run, starting from the spring-house at 
Eummel's. The Eummel farm buildings event- 
ually became the key point of the field, which 
lies about three miles east of Gettysburg. 



12 



The force under Gregg numbered about five 
thousand men, though not more than three 
thousand were actually engaged in the fight 
which occurred on the ground described. It con- 
sisted of the three regiments of Mcintosh's 
brigade, Irvin Gregg's brigade, and Custer's 
brigade, which, as will appear, remained on the 
field. This last, known as the "Michigan 
brigade," was composed of the First, Fifth, Sixth 
and Seventh Michigan Cavalry regiments, com- 
manded by Colonels Town, Alger, Gray and 
Mann, respectively, and Battery M of the Second 
(regular) Artillery, commanded by Lieutenant 
A. C. M. Pennington. On the other hand Stuart 
had with him — as he states in his report — Hamp- 
ton's, Fitzhugh Lee's and W.H. F.Lee's brigades 
of cavalry, to which was added for the proposed 
movements of the day Jenkins' brigade of cav- 
alry, armed as mounted infantry with Enfield 
muskets. This entire force has been estimated 
by reliable Confederate authority as between six 
thousand and seven thousand men. 

When Mcintosh, with his command, came 
upon the ground, about 1 o'clock, for the purpose 
of relieving Custer, he found the latter in posi- 
tion facing Gettysburg near the junction of the 
Bonaughtown and Salem Church roads, and cov- 
ering them. In his official report of the battle 
Custer mistakes the names of the roads on which 
he held position. He erroneously calls the Han- 
over or Bonaughtown road the York pike, and the 
Salem Church road the Oxford road. He states, 
however : 

At an early hour on the morning of the 3d, I re- 
ceived an order, through a staff officer of the briga- 
dier general commanding the division, to move at 
once my command, and follow the First brigade on 
the road leading from Two Taverns to Gettysburg. 



13 



Agreeably to the above instructions, my column 
was formed and moved out on the road designated, 
when a staff officer of Brigadier General Gregg, 
commanding Second division, ordered me to take 
my command and place it in position on the pike 
leading from York to Gettysburg, which position 
formed the extreme right of our battle on that day. 
Upon arriving at the point designated, I immediately 
placed my command in position, facing toward Get- 
tysburg. At the same time I caused reconnoissances 
to be made on my front, right and rear, but failed to 
discover any considerable force of the enemy. Every- 
thing remained quiet till iO A. M., when the enemy 
appeared on my right flank, and opened upon me 
with a battery of six guns. Leaving two guns and 
a regiment to hold my first position and cover the 
road leading to Gettysburg, I shifted the remaining 
portion of my command, forming a new line of battle 
at right angles to my forward line. The enemy had 
obtained correct range of my new position, and were 
pouring solid shot and shell into my command with 
great accuracy. Placing two sections of Battery M, 
Second (regular) Artillery, in position, I ordered 
them to silence the enemy's battery, which order, 
notwithstanding the superiority of the enemy's po- 
sition, was successfully accomplished in a very short 
space of time. My line, as it then existed, was 
shaped like the letter L, the shorter branch formed 
of the section of Battery M, supported by four squad- 
rons of the Sixth Michigan Cavalry, faced toward 
Gettysburg, covering Gettysburg pike; the long 
branch composed of the remaining two sections of 
Battery M, Second Artillery, supported by a portion 
of the Sixth Michigan Cavalry, on the right, while 
the Seventh Michigan Cavalry, still further to the 
right and in advance, was held in readiness to repel 
any attack the enemy might make coming on the 
Oxford road. The Fifth Michigan Cavalry was dis- 
mounted, and ordered to take position in front of 
my centre and left. The First Michigan Cavalry was 
held in columns of squadi-ons to observe the move- 
ments of the enemy. I ordered fifty men to be sent 
one mile and a half on the Oxford road, while a de- 
tachment of equal size was sent one mile and a half 



14 



on the road leading from Gettysburg to York, both 
detachments being under the command of the gal- 
lant Major Webber, who from time to time kept me 
so well informed of the movements of the enemy 
that I was enabled to make my dispositions with 
complete success. 

At 12 o'clock an order was transmitted to me from 
the brigadier general conamanding the division by 
one of his aids, directing me, upon being relieved 
by a brigade from the Second division, to move with 
my command and form a junction with the First 
brigade on the extreme left. On the arrival of the 
brigade of the Second division, commanded by Col- 
onel Mcintosh, I prepared to execute the order. 

The remainine portions of his account require 
re-statement for purposes already mentioned. 

Upon notifying Custer of the orders to relieve 
him Mcintosh inquired as to his picket line and 
the position and force of the enemy. Nothing 
was said as to any previous firing and every- 
thing was quiet at the time. Custer reported, 
however, that the enemy were all around, and 
that an attack might be expected at any moment 
from the right and rear. The First New Jersey, 
under Major Beaumont, was at once ordered out, 
mounted, to relieve Custer's lines, and took posi- 
tion in the woods on the Salem Church road, 
facing to the northwest. The Third Pennsyl- 
vania, under Lieutenant Colonel Jones, and First 
Maryland, under Lieutenant Colonel Deems, 
were drawn up in columns of squadrons in a 
clover field west of the Lott house awaiting de- 
velopments. While in this position, and a few 
minutes after 1 o'clock, the tremendous artillery 
firing which preceded Pickett's attack com- 
menced. Not being in the line of fire, however, 
the officers and men of the brigade, while allow- 
ing their horses to graze, looked with astonish- 
ment on the magnificent spectacle. 

As soon as the Michigan brigade had with- 



15 



drawn from the field for the purpose of join- 
ing Kilpatrick near Round Top, Mcintosh, who 
had looked well over the ground, determined to 
ascertain what force was in his front without 
waiting to be attacked. Accordingly about 2 
o'clock he ordered Major Beaumont to deploy a 
strong skirmish line of the First New Jersey 
and move it forward, under Major Janeway, to- 
ward the wooded crest about half a mile in 
front of him and a short distance beyond Eum- 
mel's, expecting there to find the enemy. This 
movement was a signal for the deployment of a 
skirmish line from Eummel's barn, where a 
strong picket force had been concealed, and 
which at once occupied a line of fences a short 
distance to the south. The First New Jersey, 
which had reached a stone and rail fence 
parallel with that occupied by the enemy, 
was dismounted and reinforced from the woods 
and immediately became hotly engaged. Two 
squadrons of the Third Pennsylvania, under 
Captains Treichel and Eogers, were deployed, 
dismounted, to the left in the open fields, and 
another squadron of the same regiment, under 
Captain Miller, deployed, mounted, to the ex- 
treme right of the whole line, in the woods cov- 
ering the cross-road above mentioned which ran 
toward the enemy's position. One squadron of 
the First New Jersey, under Captain Hart, re- 
mained drawu up, mounted, in the woods in sup- 
port of the line. To meet this movement the 
Confederate skirmish line was strongly rein- 
forced from the woods by dismounted men, and 
a battery was placed in position on the wooded 
crest back of the Eummel house and to the left 
of the cross-road. 

The Confederate battery now opened fire, and 
Mcintosh sent back for Eandol and his guns, at 



16 



the same time informing General Gregg of the 
state of affairs, that he was engaged with a 
greatly superior force, and requesting that Col- 
onel Irvin Gregg's brigade be sent up on a trot 
to support him. That brigade was yet some dis- 
tance off, and Gregg meeting Custer on the 
march in the opposite direction, ordered him to 
return and reinforce Mcintosh and to remain on 
the ground until the Third brigade could be 
brought up. Custer, ever ready for a fight, was 
not loth to do so. Wheeling his column about 
he moved up at once to Mcintosh's support, and 
General Gregg coming upon the field took com- 
mand of the forces. In the meantime the enemy 
attempted to force our lines on the right, but 
their charge was gallantly repulsed by Miller's 
squadron of the Third Pennsylvania and Hart's 
squadron of the First I^ew Jersey in the woods. 
The enemy having filled the large barn at 
Eummel's with sharpshooters who were com- 
pletely protected from our fire. Captain Eandol, 
upon coming on the ground, placed a section 
of his battery of 3-inch light ordnance guns, 
under Lieutenant Chester, in position on the 
edge of an orchard, some distance to the left 
and beyond the Eeever house, and opened upon 
the barn. Shell after shell struck the building, 
soon compelling the enemy to abandon it, and as 
they did so, the centre of our line advanced and 
occupied the enemy's line of fences and some of 
the outbuildings. Having thus pierced their 
line, a force was sent out to take the enemy in 
flank, while the left centre moved up to the line 
of fences, driving back the portions of Jenkins' 
brigade which had occupied them. This move- 
ment caused the left of the enemy's line, held by 
portions of Hampton's and Fitzhugh Lee's 
brigades, dismounted, to give way also. The 



17 



centre and left of our line was thus advanced, 
while the right still rested on the woods on the 
cross-road, and the Sixth Michigan went into 
position along Little's run, on the left rear of 
Treichel's and Eogers' squadrons, occupying the 
space thus opened, at the same time extending to 
the left so as to cover the Bonaughtown road. 
Pennington's battery of six guns upon arriving 
on the ground had gone into position on the side 
of the Bonaughtown road, a short distance west 
of the Spangler house and about two hundred and 
fifty yards to the left and rear of Chester's section. 
Between the two Eandol placed his second sec- 
tion under Lieutenant Kinney, of the First Con- 
necticut Heavy Artillery, an officer of General 
Tyler's staff, who had volunteered to serve with 
the battery. By the accuracy of their firing and 
superior range Eandol's guns soon silenced the 
enemy's battery on the crest, beyond Eummel's, 
near the cross-road, and Pennington's, some guns 
in position more to our left. 

The ammunition of the First New Jersey and 
Third Pennsylvania becoming exhausted, the 
Fifth Michigan, armed with Spencer repeating 
carbines, was ordered to relieve them and moved 
up to the front, dismounted, along a fence, 
which intersected the field lengthwise, running 
at right angles to the skirmish line. The left 
came up to the line occupied by Treichel's and 
Eogers' squadrons of the Third Pennsylvania, 
behind a fence which was slightly retired from 
that occupied by the First New Jersey, but be- 
fore the right could reach the more advanced fence 
occupied by the First New Jersey, a dismounted 
regiment from William H. F. Lee's brigade 
advanced in line to the support of the enemy's 
skirmishers, who were about to be cut ofi" by the 
detachment sent out from Eummel's, and 



18 



made a terrific onslaught along the line. Treich- 
el's and Sogers' squadrons of the Third Pennsyl- 
vania and that portion of the Fifth Michigan 
which had reached his line, held the ground 
stubbornly. After a while, when the fire had 
slackened, Treichel and Eogers, who had been 
ordered to retire when the Fifth Michigan came 
up, endeavored to withdraw their men. The 
enemy, believing it a signal of retreat, advanced. 
The Third Pennsylvanians came back upon the 
line, and again and again was this repeated. 

The First New Jersey remained at the line of 
fences until the last cartridge was used and the 
last pistol emptied, and then fell back upon the 
supports in the woods. This movement was 
taken advantage of by the enemy, and the First 
Virginia was at once ordered to charge upon our 
right centre. As it was seen to start Mcintosh 
rode over quickly to the Lott house, where he 
had left the First Maryland prepared for such an 
emergency. Gregg, however, upon coming on 
the field had moved the regiment over to the 
right of the Salem Church road to guard more 
efi'ectually that important quarter. The Seventh 
Michigan, which was to take its place, was just 
then coming on the field from the direction of 
the Eeever house in column of fours. Custer, 
who was near, also saw the emergency, ordered 
close column of squadrons to be formed at the 
gallop, and advanced with it to meet the attack. 

As the First New Jersey fell back the right of 
the two Third Pennsylvania squadrons and that 
portion of the Fifth Michigan which had reached 
them swung back behind the fence which ran 
parallel with the line of the charging column, 
and intersecting the field lengthwise. 

The Seventh Michigan, a new regiment, ad- 
vanced boldly to meet the First Virginia, but, on 



19 



coming up to the stone and rail fence, instead 
of pushing across it, began firing with their re- 
peating carbines. The First Virginia came on 
in spite of the heavy fire until it reached the 
fence from the other side. Both regiments then 
fought face to face across the fence with their 
carbines and revolvers, while a scorching fire 
was centred upon the First Virginia from either 
flank. The enemy's dismounted line also came 
up and assisted the First Virginia to pass the 
fence, whereupon the the Seventh Michigan 
gave way in disorder, the enemy in close pursuit. 
The First Virginia becoming strung out by 
this movement, was exposed to a terrific fire 
from the two batteries in front and the heavy 
skirmish lines on the flanks, while some of the 
Fifth Michigan, who had succeeded in mount- 
ing, advanced to assist the Seventh. It was 
more than even their gallantry could stand, and 
the First Virginia fell back on its supports, which 
were fast advancing to its assistance. This was 
about 3 o'clock. Just then there appeared in 
the distance, turning the point of woods on the 
cross-road by the Stallsmith farm, a brigade of 
cavalry.* It was manifest to every one that, 
unless this, the grandest attack of all was 
checked, the fate of the day would be decided 
against the Army of the Potomac. It was 
Stuart's last reserve and his last resource, for, if 
the Baltimore pike was to be reached and havoc 
created in our rear, the time had arrived, as 
Pickett was even then moving up to the assault 
of Cemetery ridge. 

* Stuart, in his oflicial report, states that this force 
consisted of the First North Carolina Cavalry and 
Jeff Davis Legion, but that gradually the greater 
portion of his command became involved in the 
hand to hand fighting. 



20 

In close columns of squadrons, advancing as if 
on parade, with sabres drawn and glistening like 
silver in the bright sunlight, the spectacle called 
forth a murmur of admiration. It was, indeed, 
a memorable one. Chester, being nearest, opened 
at once with his section, at the distance of three- 
fourths of a mile. Pennington and Kinney soon 
did the same. Canister and percussion shell were 
put into the steadily approaching column as fast 
as the guns could fire. The dismounted men fell 
back to the right and left, and such as could got 
to their horses. The mounted skirmishers ral- 
lied and fell into line. Then Gregg rode over to 
the First Michigan, which, as it had come upon 
the field a few moments before had formed close 
column of squadrons between and supporting the 
batteries, and ordered it to charge. As Colonel 
Town ordered sabres to be drawn and the column 
to advance, Custer dashed up with similar orders 
and placed himself at its head. The two columns 
drew nearer and nearer, the Confederates out- 
numbering their opponents as three or four to 
one. The gait increased — first the trot, then the 
gallop. Hampton's battle-flag floated in the van 
of his brigade. The orders could be. distinctly 
heard by those in the woods on their left, " Keep 
to your sabres, men, keep to your sabres !" The 
lessons they had learned at Brandy Station and 
at Aldie had been severe. There the cry had 
been : " Put up your sabres ! Draw your pistols 
and fight like gentlemen !" The sabres, never 
favorite weapons with the Confederate cavalry, 
were dropped by many, notwithstanding. 

As the charge was ordered the speed increased, 
every horse on the jump, every man yelling like 
a demon. The columns of the Confederates 
blended, but the perfect alignment was main- 
tained. Chester put charge after charge of can- 



21 



ister into their midst, his men bringing it up to 
the guns by the armful. The execution was 
fearful, but the long rents closed up at once. As 
the opposing columns approached nearer and 
nearer, each with perfect alignment, every man 
gathered his horse well under him and gripped 
his weapon the tighter. Though ordered to retire 
his guns, towards which the head of the assault- 
ing column was directed, Chester kept on firing 
until the enemy were within fifty yards, and the 
head of the First Michigan had come into the 
line of his fire. Staggered by the fearful fire 
from the two batteries centered upon it, the men 
in the frontline of the Confederate column drew 
in their horses and wavered. Some turned, and 
the column fanned out to the right and left, but 
those behind came pressing on. Custer seeing 
the front men hesitate shouted, " Come on, you 
Wolverines !" and with a fearful yell the First 
Michigan rushed on, Custer four lengths ahead. 
Mcintosh, as he saw the Confederate column 
advancing, sent his Adjutant General, Captain 
Walter S. IsTewhall, to the left with orders to 
Treichel and Eogers to rally their men for a 
charge on the flank as it passed. But sixteen 
men could get their horses, and with five ofllcers 
they made for the battle-flag,as. ii. pass.&d. ISTew- 
hall, back once more with the men of his own 
regiment, whom he knew would go anywhere, 
and carried away by the excitement of the mo- 
ment, rushed in, by the side of Treichel and 
Eogers, at the head of the little band. Miller, 
whose squadron of the Third Pennsylvania 
was already mounted, fired a volley from the 
woods on the right as the Confederate column 
passed parallel with his line, but one hundred 
yards oif, and then, with sabres drawn, charged 



22 



down upon the overwhelming masses of the 
enemy. 

The small detachment of the Third Pennsylva- 
nia, under Treichel and Eogers, struck the enemy 
first, all making: for the color-guard. N'ewhall 
was about seizing the flag when a sabre blow, 
directed at his head, compelled him to parry it. 
At the same moment the color-bearer lowered 
his spear and struck Newhall full in the face, 
tearing open his mouth and knocking him 
senseless to the ground. Every officer and 
nearly every man in the little band was killed 
or wounded, although some succeeded in cutting 
their way clear through. Almost at the same 
moment Miller, with his squadron of the Third 
Pennsylvania, struck the left flank about two- 
thirds of the way down the column. Going 
through and through, he cut ofi'the rear portion 
and drove it back past Eummel's almost up to 
the Confederate battery, and nothing but the 
heavy losses which he had suffered and the scat- 
tering of his men prevented his going further, 
wounded though he was. 

In the meantime the heads of the two columns 
had met — the one led by Hampton and Fitz Lee 
and the other by Custer — and were fighting 
hand to hand. Mcintosh, with his staff" and 
orderlies, and such scattered men from the 
Michigan and other regiments as he could get 
together charged in with their sabres. For 
minutes, which seemed like hours, amid the 
crashing of the sabres, the fire of the small-arms, 
the frenzied imprecations, the demandsto sur- 
render, the undaunted replies and the appeals 
for mercy, the Confederate column stood its 
ground. Captain Thomas, of the staff", seeing 
that but little more was needed to turn the tide, 
cut his way over to the woods on the Salem 



J 



23 



Church road, where he knew he could find Hart, 
with his fresh squadron of the First New Jersey. 
Seeing in the melee an officer of high rank, the 
two headed the squadron for that part of the 
fight. They each came within reach of him 
with their sabres and then it was that Wade 
Hampton was wounded. 

By this time the edges of the Confederate 
column had begun to fray away and the outside 
men to turn back. As Hart's squadron and the 
other small parties of their opponents, who had 
rallied and mounted, poured down from all sides, 
the enemy turned. Then followed a pell-moll 
rush, our men in close pursuit. Many prisoners 
were captured and many of our men, through 
their impetuosity, were carried away by the 
overpowering current of the retreat. ■'■ 

The pursuit was kept up past Eummel's, and 
the enemy were driven back into the woods be- 
yond. The line of fences and the farm buildings, 
which constituted the key-point of the field, and 
which, in the beginning of the fight, had been in 
the possession of the enemy, remained in ours 
until the end. All serious fighting for the day 
was over, for Pickett's simultaneous attack had 
also been repulsed, and the victory along the 
line was complete. Skirmishing and some de- 
sultory artillery firing was kept up at inter- 
vals by both forces until after nightfall. 
These disturbances were caused by the enemy's 
endeavors to recover their killed and wounded, 
who were lying thickly strewn over the field in 

* The successful result of this magnificent cavalry 
charge was attributed by the victors to the steadi- 
ness and efficiency with which they used the sabre 
en masse. It should be a strong point in the present 
discussions in favor of the retention of the sabre as a 
calvary man's weapon. 



I 



u 



our possession. At dark Stuart withdrew to the 
York pike, preparatory to covering the retreat 
of Lee's army towards the Potomac. In the 
evening Custer's brigade was ordered to join its 
division. Gregg remained all night in possession 
of the field and in the morning started in pursuit 
of the retreating enemy. 

The losses of the Confederate cavalry were un- 
mistakably heavy, but have not been ascertained. 
General Gregg reported the losses in his division 
to be one officer and 33 enlisted men killed, 17 
officers and 40 enlisted men wounded and one 
ofiicer and 103 enlisted men missing — total, 195. 
These losses were suffered principally by the 
Third Pennsylvania and First New Jersey Cav- 
alry regiments, which had borne the brunt of 
the fighting of the division. By the time'the 
Third brigade had come up, the Michigan 
brigade had gotten so deeply into the fight that 
it could not be withdrawn. The Third brigade 
had consequently been held in reserve close at 
hand during the fight, drawn up in position 
southeast of the intersection of theBonaughtown 
and Salem Church roads. 

Custer in his official report stated his losses to 
be 9 officers and 69 enlisted men killed, 25 offi- 
cers and 207 enlisted men wounded, and 7 officers 
and 225 enlisted men missing — total, 542. 

It has been claimed that Gregg's fight at Get- 
tysburg was the finest cavalry fight of the war. 
To borrow the language of Custer in his report 
of it: "I challenge the annals of warfare to pro- 
duce a more brilliant or successful charge of cav- 
alry than the one just recounted." 









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